Workforce

Options for workforce education are available through several avenues in the Arkadelphia area, including university and community college programs.

The Henderson State University Community Education Center (CEC) is a workforce training consortium made up of local industry, educational institutions and training providers. The center provides credit and non-credit courses as well as training programs as requested by industry in order to create a well trained workforce for the surrounding area. The center partners with school districts in the county to offer courses which allow the students to earn credit at area community colleges.

TheHenderson State University Teachers College houses the M.H. Russell Center for Economic Education, which collaborates with the Arkansas Council on Economic Education to offer programs that provide teachers with methods and materials for integrating economics into existing K-12 curricula.

TheSmall Business & Technology Development Center, a university-based economic development program, is a component of Henderson State University's School of Business. The Center provides consulting, training, research, and technology services for small business owners and entrepreneurs in southwest Arkansas.

TheHenderson State University Department of Aviationoffers the only four-year aviation degree in the state of Arkansas. The program has over 120 students and owns and operates 16 aircrafts, conducting flight training as well as training to manage airports or fleets. The program also operates the Arkadelphia Municipal Airport.

Educator training is available atDawson Education Service Cooperative, located in downtown Arkadelphia. The Cooperative provides support to the school districts in its region as well as professional development opportunities for teachers. The cooperative acts as a consortium for purchasing certain services and supplies and provides technical computer support to the schools it serves. These cooperative efforts facilitate an efficient and economical delivery of services and directly impact the education opportunities available to the students of the participating districts.

Two community colleges are located in close proximity to Arkadelphia.National Park Community Collegein Hot Springs provides customized technical, management, and compliance training services. The programs are designed to improve employee skills and enhance productivity.The College of the Ouachita's in Malvern offers a multitude of workforce training courses through its Center for Workforce Excellence, including Supervisory Management and Continuing Education classes.

Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance and Area Chamber of Commerce

The Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance (the "Alliance") is an umbrella organization that oversees the chambers of commerce for Amity, Arkadelphia, and Gurdon, the Economic Development Corporation of Clark County (the "EDCCC"), and the Clark County Industrial Council. The Alliance was formed pursuant to the Clark County Strategic Plan, a long-range visioning document created over a fifteen month period by approximately 500 residents of Clark County with the purpose of identifying and implementing comprehensive community initiatives that improve quality of life and economic opportunities for all residents of the county.